Systems Thinking Approach to Change Management (online)



Overview

Manage change in complex environments with confidence. Over 12 sessions, this course gives you a practical toolbox od system thinking techniques to help you navigate uncertainty, shifting priorities and resistance, helping you lead change more effectively in your organisation. 

You’ll explore why many large-scale change programmes fail to deliver, and learn how to assess the complexity of different scenarios before applying practical tools to plan, adapt and respond. Discover how traditional elements like communication and persuasion shift in complex systems, and how to build momentum even when change feels messy and unpredictable. 

The course also looks at individual thinking styles and cultural responses to change by using complexity theory alongside real-world examples, so you have a practical understanding of what you are taught. Designed for professionals involved in planning or delivering change, it gives you the methods to lead where linear approaches fall short. 

Programme details

The course includes tools to evaluate change readiness and team alignment and identifies key skills for change leadership. It features an agile approach to project execution and covers key facilitation skills for change team leadership. 

We introduce a series of tools to deal with complexity and emergence, including rich analysis of the organisational context and change problem. We present a systems thinking approach to change project initiation and management based on Dr Rob Collins’ book Visual Project Maps. 

This course is primarily focussed on practical, usable tools that enable execution. This is a course aimed at ‘doing’ underpinned by systems thinking.  

Dates, Times and Delivery

The core teaching element of the course consists of eight 105-minute teaching sessions from 10:00-11:45 and 12:45-14:30 (UK time) on:

  • Tuesday 25 November
  • Wednesday 26 November
  • Thursday 27 November
  • Friday 28 November 

The course will be delivered via video conference from our purpose-built broadcast studio. We will be using our online, interactive workshop environment to enable practical workshop activities during the course.

There are also four optional 90-minute, practical workshop sessions on each day of the course, from 15:00-16:30 (UK time). These optional sessions are open to everyone on the course, enabling you to practise key tools covered in the taught sessions.

These optional sessions in the afternoon will not be taught, and won’t be supervised by the course tutor. They are an opportunity for teams to practise the tools introduced on the course in a collaborative, risk-free manner, using our online, interactive workshop environment.

This is a ‘virtual classroom’ course, and is designed to replicate the experience of a classroom. The sessions are ‘live’ and are not recorded.

No attendance at Oxford is required and you do not need to purchase any software.

Accessing Your Online Course 

Details about accessing the private MS Teams course site will be emailed to you during the week prior to the course commencing.  

Please get in touch if you have not received this information within three working days of the course start date. 

Digital Certification

In order to be eligible for a certificate of attendance, you will need to attend the whole course. Participants who meet this criterion will be emailed after the end of the course with a link, and instructions on how to access their University of Oxford digital certificate.

The certificate will show your name, the course title and the dates of the course you attended. You will be able to download your certificate, as well as share it on social media if you choose to do so.

Fees

Description Costs
Standard course fee £1265.00

Payment

Fees include electronic copies of course materials. 

All courses are VAT exempt. 

Register immediately online

Click the 'Book now' button on this webpage. Payment by credit or debit card is required. 

Request an invoice

If you require an invoice for your company or organisation, please email us to request an online enrolment form. Payment is then accepted online, by credit/debit card, or by bank transfer. 

Tutor

Dr Rob Collins

Course Tutor

Visiting Fellow

Department of Computer Science, University of Oxford

Dr Rob Collins is a visiting fellow of Kellogg College, Oxford and regularly teaches courses at the University. Dr Collins has taught on the MSc in Software Engineering through Oxford University’s Computing Laboratory for over 20 years. He currently teaches modules on Classical Machine Learning, Software Testing and Safety Critical Systems.

Dr Collins also teaches courses in Artificial Intelligence, Systems Thinking, Agile, Machine Learning, Design Thinking and Business Process Improvement. He regularly provides consultancy to industry in the area of Business Process Excellence, Artificial Intelligence and Systems Engineering. He gained his Black Belt Certification in Lean Six Sigma from Lockheed Martin, the world's largest Systems Engineering company and a world-leader in advanced technology.

As well as his undergraduate degree in Physics and Computing, Dr Collins holds a PhD focussed on training, psychology and processes for introducing complex technology into learning environments. He completed an MBA in 2012 at Henley Business School, and so has a strategic business view as well as deep understanding and practical experience of hands-on process improvement in technology and service.

Application

If you would like to discuss your application or any part of the application process before applying, please use the 'Ask a Question' button at the top of this page.

IT requirements

This course is delivered online using Microsoft Teams. You will be required to follow and implement the instructions we send you to fully access Microsoft Teams on the University of Oxford's secure IT network.

To participate you must be familiar with using a computer for purposes such as sending email and searching the Internet. You will also need regular access to the Internet and a computer meeting our recommended minimum computer specification.

It is advised to use headphones with working speakers and microphone.

Terms & conditions for applicants and students

Information on financial support